Jenny & Francois Portfolio Tasting: Best of the Best

Jenny & Francois are perhaps thee leading natural/organic/biodynamic wine importer in the U.S.A. They held a portfolio tasting recently and, being a big fan of many of their wines, I felt it my duty to stop by. Four hours later I emerged having tasted all the red wines currently in their portfolio. This is no small task my friends, there were 72 red wines on display. I can say that this is far more wine than I have ever tasted in one go, the next closest being the Jenny & Francois Natural Wine Festival that took place last year at Astor Wines. Even though I spit all the wines tasted (except the Els Jelpins!), I have to hand it to the “professional” tasters who do this day in and day out, it is a tougher job than one might imagine. Your palate tiers and you have to remain focused. And even though you are spitting, sometimes you feel like you are going sideways anyway!

Seventy two wines is a lot of wine, so I am not going to share every tasting note here. What I can say about the entire portfolio of red wines is almost all of them were very good. Only a few seemed a bit lackluster to my palate. There are lots of great wines I would love to recommend, but I am going to just cover the highlights and I am going to do it along with some photos from the day. Sorry for the murky photos we tasted on the lower level at The Smith and there were no windows. Get out there and find some of this stuff from Jenny & Francois, its all natural, good for the planet, and good for you.

Normally I am not as taken with Burgundy as most wine folks, but on this day I was proven wrong. I fell deeply for these beauties from Catherine & Dominique Derain. Some of the most memorable and delicious wines of the tasting.

Derain Cevrey-Chambertin 2009 “En Vosne” Burgundy

The most tightly knit of the bunch, with great floral and lavender components, a bit tight, but still delicious stuff! Certified Biodynamic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Derain Saint Aubin 2009 “Le Ban” Burgundy

Tight dark berry fruit with hints of earth on the nose it is sweet and delicious in the mouth. Some lite tannins to resolve but once again very approachable even now. Certified Biodynamic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Derain Mercurey 2009 “La Plante Chassey” Burgundy

Seductive and sweet and cherry fruit and earth and spice. Lite tannins, but so nice! Certified Biodynamic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Amongst the more fun labels at the tasting, I am not entirely sure it is legal to display nudity on wine labels in the US&A, but I love the name of the wine and this Burg ain't bad juice either.

Irancy 2009 “Viti Vini Vinci” Burgundy

Perhaps the most irreverent Burgundy I have tasted, it has a sweet amazing other worldly cherry component, with good lift and that simply delicious factor. This is a W.T.F wine. And in a good way. Sustainable/Natural. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Guillot-Broux Gamay from Macon-Cruzilles out shined some of the Burgundies it sat with. How you like that Pinot Noir!

Guillot-Broux 2009 Macon-Cruzilles Gamay

This Gamay from Burgundy, not Beaujolais mind you, is all pungent red fruit and stones. This followed a couple of Pinots from Burgundy and it mopped the floor with them. Nice stuff. Certified Organic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Loire + Cab Franc = Le Bon Petit Daible!

Sablonnettes 2010 “Le Bon Petit Biable” Loire

This wine is quite the little devil! Cab Franc in the house with a nice spearmint play. Nice! Organic/Biodynamic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Cahors, this wine has muscle. And in all the right places. Awesomeness.

Clos Seguier 2008 Cahors

Forget Malbec from Argentina, this is the real deal right here. Mint/Eucalyptus, dark cherry syrup, and meaty earth mix to form magic. This is awesome now, but is a cellar candidate as well. Organic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Always a runner for best in show, Els Jelpins! Only catch, its very expensive. Thank god you could turn to the Inédito Rioja for an affordable alternative. Both were winners in my book.

Els Jelipins 2006 Penedes

Els Jelipins is one of those singular wines that is very difficult to define. It’s different and you like it, but your not sure why. It has cherries and pepper and lift and its delicious. The wine has its followers and a $75 price tag to match. If you can ever get a chance to taste it, do so. Singular stuff. Sumoll 60%, Garnacha 40%. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Inedito 2010 “3/3″ Rioja

This is what a great Joven Rioja should be. Simply delicious, delivering more than it should, without getting in your face. Very drinkable and very delicious. Grenache, Tempranillo, and Graciano. Sustainable. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

While all the wines from Deux Anes are great, the "L'Enclos" always sits on top.

Some times weird blends can be awesome for their diferrentness. This is one of those times. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Zinfandel. WTF? But it works. Exotic spice and fresh leather. Yummy! Organic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

[...] This all coming from the Pinot hater. But I was impressed with the range of Derain wines at the Jenny & Francois portfolio tasting, and had been curious to enjoy a bottle in the comfort of my own home over a meal and see if the [...]